March trial date in challenge of La. abortion law

A March 30 trial date has been set in Baton Rouge federal court for a lawsuit challenging a new Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to be able to admit patients to a nearby hospital.

Until then, a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge John deGravelles remains in effect, barring the state health department from penalizing doctors who are applying for the admitting privileges.

The law requires doctors to be able to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles of where the procedure is performed.

Clinics in Shreveport, Bossier City and Metairie were the first to sue the state seeking to block the law. But the state’s other two clinics in New Orleans and Baton Rouge since have been added to the federal lawsuit.